Centrifugally operated valve sediment extractor



y 14, 1958 M. E. MCLAWHORN 3,382,882

CENTRIFUGALLY OPERATED VALVE SEDIMENT EXTRACTOR Filed Nov. 17, 1965 INVENTOR ATTORNEYIS' United States Patent Oflice 3,382,882 Patented May 14, M68

3,382,882 (IENTREFUGALLY OPERATED VALVE SEDHMENT EXTRACTOR Meahin E. McLawhorn, Box 522, Farmvilie, N.C. 27828 Filed Nov. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 508,287 11 (Ziaims. (Cl. 137-53) This invention relates to sediment extractors and more particularly to improved apparatus for facilitating the removal from washing machine tubs of sediment that has been washed out of clothes.

In order to insure that the silt, sand and other heavier than water soil constituents that are washed out of clothes during the agitation cycle are not reincorporated in the clothes during the spin cycle, it has been found necessary to remove the sediment from the tub, preferably as the spin cycle begins. In order to provide for sediment extraction in an economical manner, many automatic clothes washers made available to the public in the recent past as well as at the present time have been provided with sediment tubes. Such tubes usually connect to the tub underside at a depression in the tub. The tube proceeds generally radially of the tub under the bottom, then vertically up the outside of the tube sidewall to a point near, but usually short of the tub top wall. As the clothes are agitated during washing, the sediment containing soil removed from the clothes collects in the depression. Upon initiation of the spin cycle, centrifugal force causes some of the tub water, along with the collected sediment, to flow into, through and upwardly out of the sediment tube to a drain.

Unfortunately, the long vertical portion of such sediment tubes, necessary, to prevent excessive loss of tub Water during the agitation cycle, usually becomes clogged after a few weeks use with insoluble precipitants from the soap or detergent solution with soil caught in the precipitants. Accordingly, such sediment tubes either fail to work or work unsatisfactorily rather early in the washing machines lifetime.

Where coin operated laundry facilities are concerned this shortcoming of such sediment tubes dictates that the machines be taken out of service, torn down and cleaned more frequently than would be the case were some satisfactory alternative to sediment tubes found. In the case of home installed automatic washers, the degradation of service given by the washers because of sediment and precipitate build-up in the sediment tube may breed disloyalty to the washer brand name and vague dissatisfaction with the machine age in general.

Of the various non-tube alternative sediment extraction devices on the market, most are inferior or unacceptable because they are prone to leak.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an efficient device for effecting the extraction of sediment from washing machine or like tubs which is not susceptible to clogging during normal use, nor leakage when the agitation cycle is occuring.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus which can be used as an original equipment or as a replacement part for a sediment tube as described Without necessitating engineering changes on the remainder of the washer, or even so much as the drilling of a bolt hole in many instances.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the type described which includes a novel bracket for assuring eflicient, non-leaking installation on the washer without regard to small dimensional differences among similar washers.

A general object of the invention is the provision of a radially reciprocable normally closed, centrifugally opened valve for facilitating removal of sediment from washing machine and like tubs.

These and further objects of the present invention as well as its principles and scope of advantageous applicability will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following detailed discussion which relates insofar as the numeral designators are concerned to the preferred embodiment shown in the annexed drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are fragmentary vertical cross-sectional and fragmentary side elevational views respectively of a washing machine inner tub having a sediment tube according to prior art;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a sediment extractor according to the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the sediment extractor of FIGURE 3 installed in place of the sediment tube of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary bot-tom perspective view of the installation shown in FIGURE 4. p

in FIGURE 1 a conventional clothes hopper or washer inner tub It is shown having a generally annular, radially extending bottom wall 12 and a generally tubular or frusto-conical sidewall 14 integrally joined at its lower end to the outer periphery of the bottom wall 12. At its inner periphery the bottom wall is joined to an upwardly projecting, central frusto-cone i6 having a non-circular center hole 18 by which the agitator assembly (not shown) is received through the bottom into the tub 10. The frusto-cone 16 is secured near its outer periphery to the bottom wall 12 via means such as angularly spaced bolts 20 received through annular flange 22. In the apparatus shown, the frustro-cone upper surface is configured to define an annular, upwardly opening trough 24 adjacent the inner extent of the flange 22. Sediment collects in the trough 24 during the agitation cycle. A port 26 is provided through the flange 22 communicating the trough, at its base, with the exterior of frusto-cone 16 at a vertical outer peripheral surface 28 of the flange 22.

Near the upper extent of the sidewall 14, a band 30 of metal is secured to the exterior of the tub to extend nearly circumferentially therearound. The band 30 operates similarly to a flywheel to aid smooth spinning of the tub during the spin cycle. The band is shown interrupted at one point to provide a gap 32 of relatively narrow angular extent.

A sediment tube 34 is secured to the flange 22 via bolts 36 and communicates with the outlet of the port 26. The tube extends radially along the underside of the tub bottom to the outer extent of the bottom, then verically adjacent the exterior of the sidewall 14 nearly to the upper extent thereof passing through the gap 32. The sediment tube is secured to the tub 10 by a bracket 38 which extends betwen the two ends 40 of the band 30 the bracket being secured to the band 30 adjacent the ends 40 by fasteners 42 such as two bolts or sheet metal screws.

Turning now to FZGURES 3, 4 and 5, the preferred embodiment of the sediment extractor 44 according to the present invention includes a generally U-shaped frame or yoke 46 having a central rear portion 48 and forwardly projecting two legs 5a which diverge away from the rear portion 48.

The bends 5 between the portion 48 and legs 59 are about a substantially vertical axis in the embodiment shown. Near their forward ends, the legs 50 are each twisted approximately 90 degrees so the teminal portions 56 are gs eraliy horizontal in extent. As best seen in FIGURE 3, a hole 58 is formed through each terminal portion 55, each hole 58 having a substantially vertical axis. Centrally of the rear portion 48, a hole 60 is formed 3 through the yoke 46, the hole 6% having a substantially horizontal axis.

Intermediate the ends of each leg 50, a hole 62 is formed having a substantially horizontal axis. A cross brace 64 is secured to the legs 50 at the holes 62 via conventional securement means 66 such as bolt and nut assemblies at holes 68, rivets or the like. Alternatively, the holes 62 could be omitted and the cross brace 64 secured by spot welding or the like. it is apparent that the yoke 46 and cross brace 64 could be formed as a one-piece casting but for most instances this would be an unnecessarily expensive alternative.

In the embodiment shown, the cross brace 64 is generally convex rearwardly having a hole 70 formed centrally through it in alignment with the hole 60. The cross brace is shown extending forwardly of its securement at 62, 66, 68 terminating at 72. A shaft guide or sleeve bearing 76, 78 is shown mounted in each opening 60, 70. The bearing 76, which may comprise a tube of easily deformable metal, may also .by deformation provide means for securing a back brace 30 to the yoke, alternatively auxiliary securement means such as a nut 82 threaded onto the exterior of the bearing 76 may be provided. The back brace 30 is a strap preferably of flexible metal secured at its lower end to the yoke portion 48 and extending upwardly a distance about equal to the height of the tub sidewall 14. The flexibility of the brace 89 allows the device 44 to be adapted to tubs of varying curvature. Near its uppermost extent, the back brace has tub fastening means such as a hole 84 provided. In the preferred embodiment, the back brace 80 has a tub bracket 86 secured to it via a nut and bolt assembly 88 received through the hole 84 and a similar hole in the tub bracket. The later is shown comprising a generally arcuately elongated band oriented generally vertically. Other means such as rivets could be employed to secure the tub bracket 86 to the back brace 80. Openings 92 are provided through the tub bracket 86 adjacent its arcuately opposite ends.

A valve shaft 94 is mounted on the yoke 46 for reciprocating movement inwardly and outwardly. The shaft k4 is received through the openings 60 and 70 and supported on the bearings 76 and 78 which circumferentially surround it at axially spaced points. In FIGURE 3, the shaft 94 is shown in full lines at the foremost point of its path of reciprocal movement. Its rearmost position is indicated at 94' in phantom lines.

The foremost end region of the shaft 94 is exteriorly threaded at 96 to receive a valve assembly 98. The latter is shown including a first nut 100, a washer 102., a valve body 194 of resilient durable material and a second nut 166. The nuts 1 3i), 106 are used to secure the assembly 98 to the shaft 94 and to adjust its relative position on the shaft 94. A coil spring 108 is received circumferentially around the shaft 4, having its rearmost end abutting the forward surface of the cross brace 64 peripherally of the hole 7 0 and its foremost end abutting the rear of the valve assembly 98.

The spring 168 operates to bias the valve assembly and shaft to the full line position thereof shown in FIGURE 3. Axial movement of the valve assembly and shaft outwardly causes compression of the spring which is relieved by movement of the valve assembly and shaft back to its FIGURE 3 full line position.

The apparatus depicted in FIGURE 3 is complete by a weight 110 for instance a lead weight fixedly secured to the shaft 94 rearwardly of the cross brace 64. The weight 116 can be secured to the shaft 94 in any convenient manner for instance by being cast on the shaft or being formed in two or more sections and assembled about the shaft. The element shown at 112 in FIGURE 3 is a washer secured to the shaft to act as a key to prevent slippage of the weight 119 on the shaft.

Turning now to FIGURES 4 and 5 while having reference to FIGURE 1, the device 44 can be installed on a tub 10 as a replacement for a clogged sediment tube 34 by removing the fasteners 36 and 42 of FIGURE 1, then removing the tube 34 and bracket 38. Then the device 44 is positioned as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. A pair of screws 20 are inserted upwardly through the holes 58 and threaded into the sockets of the bolts 20. The fasteners 42 are then inserted through the tub bracket holes 92 and tightened into the band 30 on the tub it). In instances where the tub does not have a band 30 with securement openings near its ends, or as an alternative, the back brace can be secured to the tub via the openings 92 or opening 84 omitting the tub bracket. The latter alternative would necessitate the drilling of a small securement receiving hole in the tub wall 14 above the water line and using a sheet metal screw or the like as a fastener. Even the latter can be avoided by adhering the upper end of the back brace to.- the tub exterior with epoxy resin or the like when a band securement as described is not possible. All of the just described openings on the device 44 through which securement means are inserted to secure the device 44 to the tub may be, and at least the hole 84 preferably is vertically elongated to provide for proper adjustment of the device 44 with respect to the tub so that a seal is effected between the valve body and its seat, the periphery of the port 26.

The valve body as shown comprises a neoprene tapered washer of circular cross-sectional shape as that is the shape of the periphery of the port 26. In instances where the port 26 periphery is non-circular the vaive body is preferably shaped to sealingly match.

The valve body is adjusted to a position on the shaft 94 such that the spring 103 is slightly compressed when the apparatus is in the condition shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, so that the spring biases the valve body into sealing engagement with the periphery of the port 26. Preferably, the valve is adjusted so that it seats, before the fasteners 42 are tightened. The back brace keeps the yoke, valve assembly and weight from drooping down during use under the influence of the weight as even a slight droop might cause the valve to leak.

In a typical installation, the frame or bracket 46 of the extractor is made of & inch thick aluminum using brass or chrome rivets or screws to hold the cross brace 64 in place. The valve shaft 94 is a 7 inch diameter, 5 /2 inch long brass rod with a /2 inch brass washer welded 2 inches from back or 3 /2 inches from its front. The forward end of the shaft is threaded inch back with a 7 inch 24 thread die. The threaded section is for valve mounting and adjustment of spring tension, the /2 inch brass washer functions to fix a /2 pound lead weight on the shaft. The valve body is a W-% bevel neoprene washer. A similar washer 114 may be fitted in a well in the rear end of the weight 110 to act as a bumper against the yoke portion 48.

The inside cross brace 64 of the typical installation is of 32 inch thick by /4 inch wide aluminum. The forward bearing 78 is a Mr inch diameter Vs inch long copper or brass tube for shaft and spring guiding, The pressure spring 188 is one of brass or stainless steel 2 /2 inches long, inch or /2 inch in diameter, with a spring constant of two pounds pressure per 1 inch depression. The rear bearing and valve shaft guide 76 is /4 inch in diameter, /6 inch long, hollow copper or brass rivet which also holds the back brace to the yoke 46. The back brace is inch thick aluminum /2 inch wide. This brace supports the back of extractor to tube bracket. The tub bracket is of inch thick, 1% inch wide, 4% inch long aluminum plate fastened to the back brace by a /8 inch diameter 1 inch long brass rivet. The tub bracket has 2 /2 inch holes to fasten it to the top of the inner tub.

It should be evident that substitution of materials and scaling of sizes is possible without departing from the principles of the present invention. In addition, it should be realized that the principles of the apparatus 44 are useful on tubs which have a substantially different appearance from the tub 10. The apparatus 44 may also be advantageously employed on similar machines which centrifuge other articles than clothing, for instance dirty oil.

In operation, the valve body 104 sealingly closes the port 26 during the filling and Washing (agitation) cycles of the automatic washer. As the clothes are agitated the segregated soil that is heavier than water sinks to the bottom of the tub and collects in the trough 24. When the spin cycle is initiated, centrifugal force acting on the Weight 110 pulls the weight 110, the shaft 94 and valve assembly 98 radially outwardly against compression of the spring 108. When the valve body I104 has thus been separated from the valve seat water drains from the tub through the port 26. The flow is generally rapid and turbulent due to the spinning of the tub and thus the water carries with it the soil collected in the trough 24. This soil and water issuing from the tub through the port 26 is drained from the washer via its conventional drain (not shown).

When the tub stops spinning, the spring 108 returns the valve to its closed position.

Because there are no long tubes to plug up the apparatus, the present invention will function correctly for an extended period Without degradation of service. Because the valve reciprocates axially, it is more dependable and less likely to leak as well as being more easily adjusted for custom fit than are biased or unbiased swinging valves.

It should now be apparent that the embodiment of the present invention as it has been described herein efficiently accomplishes each of the inventions objects as stated at the outset of the specification and clearly illustrates the principles of the invention.

For instance both the back brace 80 and tub bracket 86 can be dispensed with in the interest of saving weight in instances where the bushing 76 is provided with exterior threading and to receive at least one nut 82 and where the yoke is made of sufficiently stiff material that the ears 56 will not bend during use, under the influence of the weight 110. With such a modification the hole 60 is made oversize with respect to the exterior of the bushing 76 so that the latter can be properly positioned so that the valve body 104 can sealingly close the port 26. The nut 82 is then tightened to fix the bushing 76 with respect to the yoke portion 48.

Because the preferred embodiment can be considerably modified without departing from these principles, the present invention should be interpreted as encompassing all such modifications as are within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tub sediment extractor for a rotatable tub comprising: bracket means for securing the extractor to a tub; shaft mounted on said bracket for reciprocation along its own longitudinal axis; a valve assembly including a valve body mounted on said shaft for closing a port on the tub; spring means mounted on the bracket resiliently urging said valve body toward a closed position; a Weight mounted on said shaft rearwardly of said valve body, whereby when the tub is rapidly rotating centrifugal force pulls said weight, said shaft and said valve body radially outwardly from the tub port against compression of said spring.

2. The tub sediment extractor of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes a generally U-shaped frame having a central portion and two legs; a cross brace secured between said legs intermediate the ends thereof; first bearing means on said central portion; second bearing means on said cross brace; said shaft being journalled in said first and second bearing means.

3. The tub sediment extractor of claim 1 having means on said legs for securing said bracket beneath the bottom Wall of said tub.

4. The tub sediment extractor of claim 2 wherein the bracket further includes a back brace secured at one end to the U-shaped frame at said central portion and extending generally perpendicularly to said U-shaped frame, said back brace having means at the opposite end from said one end for securing the back brace to the side wall of the tub near the top of the tub.

5. The tub sediment extractor of claim 4 wherein the back brace opposite end means comprises a short generally arcuately extending band having means comprising securement receivers near the two arcuate ends thereof.

6. The tub sediment extractor of claim 4 wherein the back brace is secured to the U-shaped frame by said first bearing means.

7. The tub sediment extractor of claim 1 wherein the valve body comprises a tapered resilient Washer.

8. The tub sediment extractor of claim 2 wherein the spring is a coil spring circumferentially surrounding the shaft, abutting the cross-brace at one end and abutting the valve assembly at the opposite end from said one end.

9. The tub sediment extractor of claim 2 wherein the first and second bearing means are first and second sleeve bearings.

10. The tub sediment extractor of claim 2 further comprising forward extensions on said cross brace from its securement to said U-shaped frame; and means defining securement receivers on said forward extensions.

11. The tub sediment extractor of claim 1 wherein said shaft is threaded adjacent one end thereof, and wherein the valve assembly further includes means threadably receivable on said shaft for adjustably fixedly locating said valve body axially on said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,532,763 4/1925 Kenner 137-53 2,656,700 10/1953 Smith 137-56 X 2,748,788 6/1956 Duckstein 13753 3,241,533 3/1966 Balmer 137-56 X 3,269,376 8/1966 Locher 137-56 X CLARENCE R. GORDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TUB SEDIMENT EXTRACTOR FOR A ROTATABLE TUB COMPRISING: BRACKET MEANS FOR SECURIANG THE EXTRACTOR TO A TUB; SHAFT MOUNTED ON SAID BRACKET FOR RECIPROCATION ALONG ITS OWN LONGITUDINAL AXIS; A VALVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A VALVE BODY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR CLOSING A PORT ON THE TUB; SPRING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE BRACKET RESILIENTLY URGING SAID VALVE BODY TOWARD A CLOSED POSITION; A WEIGHT MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT REARWARDLY OF SAID VALVE 